The Investment Marketing and Innovation Awards are back to reward the hard working innovative people and companies in the investment world. The awards categories cover both marketing and proposition development, as well as direct and digital marketing. They are designed to recognise and reward creativity and innovation within the sector.

Investment Week is delighted to be hosting the 25th Fund Manager of the Year Awards on Thursday 25 June ONLINE. This year's ceremony is a key part of Investment Week's 25th anniversary celebrations in 2020 and we will be presenting awards for Outstanding Fund Manager over 25 Years and Outstanding Contribution over 25 Years on the night. A flagship event for the investment industry for a quarter of a century, the Fund Manager of the Year Awards honour fund managers and groups at the top of their game who have demonstrated consistently strong performance for investors and whom the judging panel believe have the potential to continue to outperform in the future.

The Sustainable Funds to Watch series from Investment Week allows sponsors to show-case up and coming or evolving funds and managers to some of the most influential fund selectors in the UK. Both Funds to Watch Winter and Funds to Watch Autumn are two day mixed asset class conferences taking place in London. The conferences consist of a mixture of streams including funds under £250m, boardroom sessions aimed at more established groups, and quick fire presentations offered to groups by editorial direction.
This event is invitation only.

In this exclusive magazine exploring the evolution of quality and income ETF strategies, King reveals that each ETF follows an investment strategy developed by the group's in-house research team that leverages fundamental active insights to inform the factor definitions and applies portfolio construction principles to mitigate the unintended biases.

David Cumming, Aviva Investors' chief investment officer for equities, last year witnessed turbulent times for UK equities but he remains positive about the market in which he has a personal as well as a professional stake.

Firms must take a long-term view of how they treat their stakeholders

Companies should not reduce or rebase their dividends "unnecessarily" and reflect any dividend cancellations or changes to employee pay in their executives' pay, the Investment Association (IA) said in an open letter to FTSE 350 firms.

The trade body wrote to the chairs of the UK's largest companies on behalf of its members pledging to support British businesses through the coronavirus crisis, but outlining a list of demands in return.

The letter, signed by the IA's director of stewardship and corporate governance Andrew Ninian, said firms must "demonstrate they are well run and take a long-term view of how they treat their employees, communities, suppliers, pension savers and customers".

"Our industry's role is to cut through economic uncertainty and market volatility, to work with and support good businesses that produce sustainable long-term value for savers and investors," Ninian wrote.

"Our members are not here to take short-term decisions or to capitalise on companies or people in distress."

The letter outlined five areas of focus for companies, which included dividends and executive pay. A number of companies, including the high-profile example of the banking sector, have chosen or been forced to cut or reduce their dividend payments.

Prudent approach to dividend payments

The IA said its members supported guidance from the Financial Reporting Council that told firms to consider its financial position at the time its dividend is paid, not only when it is declared.

Further, it said companies should consider the suitability and sustainability of payouts in light of current uncertainties, including ensuring employees and suppliers can be paid.

However, it cautioned: "While IA members expect companies to take a prudent approach to current and future dividend payments… shareholders would be concerned if companies unnecessarily reduced or rebased the dividend level."

Those that do decide to suspend dividends should restart "as soon as it is prudent to do so". "Ultimately, shareholders expect companies to be transparent about their approach to dividends, particularly, if they are seeking additional capital."

Further, the IA noted "executive pay should continue to be aligned to company performance", including decisions on both dividend cuts and making significant changes to their employees' pay.